Swift Currents of Historic Race Are Quickly Crowded

And they’re off.

In less than 11 weeks, Californians will trek to the polls to decide their governor’s fate. Already, one thing is clear: If Day One was any indication, participants will need Terminator-like stamina to survive the campaign.

While Gov. Gray Davis began Thursday with his trademark soy and blueberry shake and made a routine round of official appearances, his backers rolled out a blitzkrieg of events to pledge their support and denounce the “right-wing” uprising they blame for the historic referendum.

Shortly after the sun rose, a new committee -- Californians Against the Costly Recall of the Governor -- was unveiled by Davis’ political strategists. By midmorning another group, Stand for California, had jumped into the fray, vowing to deliver anti-recall activism from seniors, environmentalists, labor unions and other self-described “sensible people across the state.”

Then came a parade of pro-Davis gatherings by the NAACP; San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, appearing jointly in the City by the Bay; the president of the California Teachers Assn.; and three Los Angeles City Council members on the steps of City Hall.

That wasn’t all. Davis aides offered up still more testimonials about their boss via telephone from Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) and Antonio Gonzalez, president of the Southwest Voter Project. A visit from former President Clinton, rumor had it, wasn’t far off.

Meanwhile, in their headquarters in a downtown Sacramento office building, pro-recall troops gave interviews to reporters from as far away as Japan, nursed voices turned hoarse by hours of street chants a day earlier and completed plans for a Saturday rally and carnival to celebrate the “dump Davis” movement.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” spokeswoman Teri O’Rourke said of Wednesday’s official declaration that a recall vote would go forward. “We’ve got the BBC calling. We just got an inquiry from a Russian TV station.... We haven’t even had time to pat each other on the back.”

On top of the marquee events, Thursday served up a bevy of other recall-related items:

* EBay, that online, everyman marketplace where you can find just about anything, had apparently caught the recall bug and was boasting about a dozen Davis-related goodies.

Those with only a few bucks to spend could pick up a copy of the official recall petition, a “Gray Davis Total Recall Terminator T-Shirt” ($9.99) or a “Recall Gray Davis” watch, featuring “a genuine leather band and fine precision quartz movement.” With an opening bid of $9.98, the watch “lets the world know exactly where you stand,” its promoters said.

Perhaps most curious, a Texas man was selling his state income tax refund check signed by then-Controller Gray Davis in 1992 -- a check that bounced when deposited. “How ironic,” the seller wrote. “Even back then he couldn’t handle money.” The check was for $3; its owner wanted $500 minimum.

Finally, for those die-hard recall maniacs, EBay was offering three catchy URLs, available at a starting bid of $4,500. Just think what fun somebody could have with HastaLaVistaDavis.com, HastaLaVistaDavis.net and HastaLaVistaDavis.org.

An EBay search for items related to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican actor contemplating a run against the governor, turned up 595 pieces of memorabilia. Among them: a bobble-head Terminator 3 doll ($8.00), a 1979 book of Arnold’s tips on “bodyshaping for women” ($5.99) and a photo of a half-naked Schwarzenegger flexing his biceps for two old women on a park bench ($6.99).

* Speaking of Schwarzenegger, the big guy continued to deflect questions about his gubernatorial intentions, this time during an appearance in Mexico City. On tour to promote his newest movie, “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” the actor and former bodybuilder said he believed it was “important that we stay on message,” the message being, in this case, the film.

“We are here to promote ‘Terminator 3,’ ” Schwarzenegger declared from a hotel stage bedecked with movie logos, “so that’s all we have to talk about.... But thank you very much for asking.”

Moments later, a TV reporter stood and asked Schwarzenegger to share a Mexican chili pepper -- “just a bite.”

“I am going to be very cautious about what I put in my mouth down here,” Schwarzenegger replied. His answer prompted some gasps among the reporters, one of whom shouted, “Why?”

Had the potential candidate for governor made a political faux pas, suggesting that there were hazards lurking in the produce of our neighbor to the south? Apparently he wasn’t referring to his foot.

* Back in Sacramento, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante was enjoying something that rarely happens to the people who hold his post: a moment in the spotlight. Surrounded by a mass of reporters who normally ignore his news releases and have absolutely no interest in what he does, Bustamante proclaimed Oct. 7 the date for the recall election.

Though his second-in-command title would suggest some measure of power, the lieutenant governor’s job is, in fact, a lonely one. He controls no money or department and is often scorned by pundits and other politicians who note -- correctly -- that the post is usually a launching pad to nowhere (Davis notwithstanding).

But for one day, at least, all eyes were focused on Bustamante, who once issued a news release to let the public know he had given blood.

“This was a big week for the nondescripts -- Bustamante and Kevin Shelley,” the secretary of state, who certified the recall election and also holds an out-of-the-limelight job, said Barbara O’Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and Media at Cal State Sacramento.

“You can’t buy that kind of media coverage,” she said. “And if you comport yourself well, it really does add to your name recognition and the public’s perception that you’re competent.”

Bustamante’s comportment? “I think he’ll get good reviews,” O’Connor said.

By week’s end, of course, his phone will stop ringing again.

*

Times staff writers Dan Morain in Sacramento and Chris Kraul in Mexico City contributed to this report.